BewilderBeasts

Today, there is a sign that says no pets allowed on the fence surrounding Elysian Heights Elementary - but the very foundation of this school's culture is built on the spirit of a cat named Room 8 who went to school every single day for 16 years. Let's learn about the most famous cat in the US that you likely never heard of because the Intern...

In 1783 a duck, a rooster and a sheep named Montauciel were heading straight for the sky. How does their unlikely story change lead to three Billionaires ending up in space over 200 years later? ********** https://storytellershat.com/2016/08/30/montauctiel-the-flying-sheep/https://time.com/3583782/hot-air-balloon-history/https://www.atlasobscura.com/ar...

Why scientists are looking to potty train 1 billion cows to combat a growing acid rain crisis. **************Resources on The Moo Loo:USGS.govThe GuardianChick a Pig board gameNPRBeef Market CentralAnd if you want to watch a cow open a door, go pee - a LOT of pee, then get a treat, you can go to YouTube.com - the Telegraph has a great short video on th...

A Smithsonian Museum exhibit depicting the skeletal remains of Dr. Grover Krantz and his beloved Irish wolfhound, Clyde. But, who was Dr. Krantz, and why is he - and his dogs - at the Smithsonian? And, why is this photo of their posthumous posed parts circulating social media?  Resources: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/grover-kr...

As there is talk of suicide and class one narcotics, listener discretion is advised. How magicians, debleated goats, LSD, a maybe murder, and a CIA holiday party are tied into the misinformation effect. Resources:Jon Ronson: "The Men Who Stared at Goats"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Men_Who_Stare_at_Goatshttp://www.jonronson.com/goats.htm...

This week is all about Michael Packard, a man who went out to catch lobster but instead got an inside view of a humpback whale. .......Resources and references on Michael Packard and the whale The Cape Cod Times article by Doug Frasier dated June 11, 2021, “I was completely inside” Fisheries.noaa.govDumb People Town - episode dated July 23, 2021, "...

A truck of hens heading to a slaughterhouse turns over on a California Highway, leading to the funniest trilogy in chicken-cinema. .......Resources: on the California Freeway Chickens: Terry Pratchett's book of short stories, "A Blink of the Screen" LA TimesWikipediaSnopesJessica TandyDeseret News Intro Music is “Tiptoe out the back” by...

There is a place called the Diamond Coast where humanity clings to a thread, and pigeons are angels and lifelines. Let's go.Resources: Flight of the Diamond Smugglers by Matthew Gavin FrankJust the Zoo of Us - Pigeons / Varmints - Pigeons / Strange Animals Podcast - PigeonsAdam Ruins Everything (Diamonds) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5kWu1ifBG...

Today, a quick update and a revisit of episode 8: the naughty bird who got evicted from a President's funeral for swearing, some birds who were separated for turning the zoo into an R rated experience for school kids, and some birds who use fire to catch prey, much to the dismay of firefighters. This episode is also playing this week over at Melis...

Updates on the wanderlust walrus who is now sinking boats in Spain, a bomb sniffing rat retires, and a revisit of the raven who inspired two old-timey authors, Charles Dickens & Edgar Allan Poe.  Resources: Magawa the land mine sniffing rat (original resources found on Episode 10) NPR: https://www.npr.org/2021/06/04/1003258540/after-years-of-detect...

A father's devotion to his daughter is saving the monarch butterfly; condors go all Spinal Tap on a woman's home; Melissa gets real with how local and state government officials in Massachusetts can get inspiration from wildlife overpasses before another Somerville resident is killed in a crosswalk in her city.*****Resources: Butterfly Connec...

Melissa presents three happy stories about animals and humans - Yoriko the fish makes an unusual friend at an underwater shrine; a service dog flunk out becomes the first arson detection dog in Saginaw, TX; how scientists are using googley eyes to save birds. Resources:Love is Blind:Yoriko and Hiroyuki Arakawa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfwdm5W2lW...

This week all about dogs and sight! We have a greyhound who gets corrective lenses, the first seeing eye dogs, and a guardian livestock dog gets an unusual flock to tend.*****Melissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com and BewilderedPod on Twitter, BewilderbeastsPod on Facebook, Bewilderbeasts on Instagram and email BewilderBeastsPod@gmail.com Dr. ...

On this shortie, Melissa got vaccinated and wanted to revisit the horseshoe crabs who made our vaccines --- and nearly every medical instrument and medication --- possible. Thanks, horseshoe crabs!*****Big thanks to Freesound.org and Joshua Empyre for additional music for this week's episode. For all other information regarding this shortie, inclu...

Melissa talks about some animals who could easily end up in a police lineup, a horse to thank every time Romaine lettuce is recalled, and cat butt science. *****Fingerprint Folly: Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/koalas-make-monkey-out-police-1313275.htmlRipleys https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/koala-fingerprints/New Scientist https://w...

An animal control investigator gets a delicious surprise; emus beat the Australian Army, and we finally have a spi...spi….a story about my phobia that we had to include, so if you hear a thud, it’s just me passing out from fear.****** The Mysterious Tree Creaturehttps://www.delish.com/food-news/a36163171/animal-control-croissant-call/https://www.histor...

Today's episode covers three stories of how animals intersect with human death or death prevention, including forensic entomology (the use of bugs to solve crime), a dog who stayed at his owners final resting space for 14 years, and how tree frogs can inspire advancements in human organ donation. Let's go!Crime solving bugs:Case files discuss...

Today we have an all NEWFOUNDLAND DOG special! A lifeguard Newfie named Reef jumps out of helicopters for the Italian Coast Guard; a Newf named Hairy Man pulled 180 Irish Immigrants off of Wreck Rock to safety on the Isle aux Morts (literally the Island of the Dead); and one unnamed Newfie gave this podcaster the best rabbit hole about Napoleon Bonapar...

The a cow who escaped a slaughterhouse and went on the lam, the dolphin of Dingle Bay, the town who went dark to save a nest of baby birds. Support the show: http://paypal.me/muttstuffMelissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com and her book, "Considerations for the City Dog" is available for purchase! Intro Music is “Tiptoe out the back” ...

The story of the cow who didn't start the fire- no, she didn't light it, but she tried to fight it. Original episode and shownotes can be found: BewilderBeasts, Episode 3: Mrs. O'Leary's CowOther podcasts that cover this story: Stuff You Should KnowStuff You Missed in History ClassMore about Melissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGra...

Bears in bear jail are in the quality assurance department; crossbow conservation, and a sleepy walrus gets a rude awakening Support the show: http://paypal.me/muttstuffMelissa can be found at MelissaMcCueMcGrath.com and her book, "Considerations for the City Dog" is available for purchase! Intro Music is “Tiptoe out the back” by Dan Lebowicz...